Fight to retain city’s ‘uniqueness’

Burlington Post

It was encouraging to recently note the reaction by the City of Brampton to the issue of monster homes invading and destroying local neighbourhoods.

Passing a bylaw that restricts the size of new dwellings to a maximum of 15 per cent greater than the existing homes means that city growth in Brampton will be reasonable and appropriate — quite unlike the current situation in Burlington.

Monster homes are popping up in most mature areas of the city. These massive dwellings are being readily approved by city planners, and they can exceed the size of the existing smaller homes in local neighbourhoods by as much as 200 per cent, or more.

I have experienced this phenomenon on my quiet, mature crescent, where all of the homes are small bungalows built in the early 1950s, similar in size and blending naturally with the local environment. A plan to tear down an existing bungalow and replace it with a monster dwelling was swiftly approved by the City of Burlington and regrettably confirmed, despite our appeal, by the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB).

The results of planning policies that allow invasion of these monster homes are numerous including:

• Decline of the character and streetscapes of older neighbourhoods, often creating eyesores within the local area

• The pushing of seniors and low/middle income families out of these areas at a time when the city should be assisting seniors to stay in their homes as long as possible

• Loss of privacy for existing homeowners in these mature areas of the city

• Since projects are usually funded by developers, they do not intend to put down roots in the neighbourhood, have little vested interest in the project impact on the local character or the residents, and their focus is primarily on profits.

We are witnessing the decline and gradual extinction of the character and uniqueness of many of the mature, inviting neighbourhoods in the city. The Official Plan for Burlington is written generically enough and with enough allowance in bylaws to give city planners the leeway to approve these monster homes being added to much smaller areas, which the Official Plan was supposed to prevent. Instead they are destroying their distinct nature that adds so much to our fine city.

We need to retain the uniqueness of these local neighbourhoods in order to preserve the current variety and charm of Burlington. With the province pushing development and growth in Burlington to reach an increase of 100 per cent by 2031, building monster homes to replace existing homesteads that are much smaller, doesn’t help the situation. This is still a one-for-one replacement.

What can you do as a Burlington resident to resist this trend?

• Lobby your city councillors for a bylaw similar to the Brampton example — a small increase of 15 per cent maximum can be accommodated without major impact on existing neighbourhoods

• When developers move into your neighbourhood with plans for a monster home, do your homework and read through the City’s Official Plan. Understand its requirements and its weaknesses related to these homes

• Enlist the support and assistance of your neighbours to identify and formalize your objections, and give feedback to city planners and your councillors, including petitions of support

• Do not rely on land developers, city planners, or the OMB to protect your neighbourhood from this type of overdevelopment — it is up to city taxpayers to fight for reasonable building plans and structures in your area

• Be vigilant — once the construction commences, it is too late to act. Once one monster home is erected in your neighbourhood, others can swiftly follow the established precedent.

Fight to retain the uniqueness and character of your neighbourhood before it is too late.